Everything is as usual, yet nothing is normal.
Halting the train commuting ticket, will use the car until November.
8000 kilometres commuting by car in front of me, at least.
I enjoy being behind the steering wheel, but I miss life with the train commute.
Every second week job at home, the other week on site…
For how long will it be like this, to late autumn, next autumn 2021, or…
Nothing can be planned, new decision for November.

After a bit of dither we decided to visit the Sofieberg hill outside Eskilstuna on Good Friday. Quite special times, so it was not entirely obvious to make the trip. But we packed both coffee and lunch from home and did not intend to come close to a single person on the trip. On the way down I had to take a tour in Eskilstuna for old memories sake. At half past nine we arrived at Sofieberg and we were alone at the parking lot. Started with a cup of coffee before we went up to experience the pasque flowers and the fine pasture with their junipers. After half an hour, it started to drop in cars and crowds of 70-plus mixed with families with children occupies the hill. Did not see any signs of social distancing here. We started to feel uncomfortable with all the people and on the way back to the car we had to take turns around people to avoid the worst.

It was a little early for lunch so I made my way up to Björsund and out on Fogdö. Also here old memories from the time when I cycled here and took the ferry… From Strängnäs towards Västerås we found that we could go out to Ängsö and have the lunch there. Once out there it looked like half of Västerås had come up with the same idea but in the end we found a place for ourselves. After that, it was just to go home on the usual roads. A pretty nice trip after all.

It’s a very strange feeling now. A couple of months ago life passed on as usual, but a few weeks ago most of that was changed in it’s foundation. It feels unreal, like a dream… But it’s the reality. Spain and Italy report nearly a thousand deaths every day. It’s not possible to plan more than for the day, tomorrow may be completely different conditions.

Virtually all events are cancelled and if not I’m extremely hesistant to attend anyway. Easter’s exhibition, which I have planned for will be postponed to Easter 2021. I hope to be able to spend more time in the nature instead. Maybe a trip to the pasqueflowers at Sofiebergskullen some time next week. I hope for a different and better world when this has passed by, although I’m afraid that everything will go back to “business as usual” in a few years, with continued environmental devastation, more threatened nature and less biodiversity.

Long time since last, but that’s how it is sometimes. Feeling unwell and tired. I would actually have been to Ski at the Nature Photo Festival this weekend but felt that I would not be able manage that, sad but that’s how it is. Christmas feels very distant and now I’m longing for the spring, although winter finally arrived in Sundsvall. The photo activity is on a alltime low, but I have done some other tings. Went to Umeå for a meeting with Malin Sahlin from the Swedish Society for Nature Conservation. Really good and informative about what’s going on in the forest issue. Then I’m thinking as it’s corona times now, how (and if) people think who still travel to areas with high infection… But I guess it’s I, me and my mind of thinking that applies nowadays.

Things happens when it comes to environmental and climate issues, but the question is whether it helps when it comes to biodiversity and the conservation of our last natural forests. I’m afraid it’s “business as usual” when it comes to the forest…

It was agreed in the government to stand behind that the felling could be 92% of the growth in the forest. But it is somewhat sick to make a political decision on an issue where independent research should apply. Much like when determining the favorable conservation status of the wolf here in Sweden. Knowledge and research is not much worth when it comes to meeting the forest lobby and hunting interests.

The Swedish Forest Agency shall cease registration of key biotopes in connection with logging notification (when a new method of investigation has been found). Whatever method, key biotopes is an accepted concept that works. Here, too, I can only see that they give in to the forest lobby.

Even when it comes to the climate policy action plan that the government has just presented, I am afraid that it will be “business as usual” in the forest:

“51. The national forest program is being developed to further promote growing forestry and sustainable forestry.
52. A bioeconomic strategy that contributes to increased access to biomass and environmental and climate benefits will be developed. ”

How should the forest industry grow without infringing on biodiversity and forests worthy of protection? The forests already planted have not reached the final harvesting age. Forestry is far from sustainable as it is now.

Item 52 is pure star dust if you look at biomass from the forest. How will you increase the biomass without destroying biodiversity. Increased harvesting and environmental and climate benefits are impossible.

I finish with a couple of pictures from the bird feeding now in early December. Around here it is only me and the beavers who determine the harvest rate.

Will 2022 (election in Sweden) be the year when the last nail in the coffin is struck in terms of the preservation of our nature, of a responsible climate policy, of our last untouched forests. The beginning of the end when it comes to free press and the media, the judicial system, culture… I think it looks very dark and I’m afraid how this will end.

A couple of pictures from a walk in Kasttjärnsbergets nature reserve at the end of November.

Long time since last time, but so it can be sometimes.
In September, I made a visit to my old home area in Western Dalarna. Some short walks along memory lane. Nice and a little melancholic.

I missed October photographically but I visited Cyber Photos Photo Fair in Umeå. The fair was ok and I managed to keep my money so there were no new gadgets. However, had been interesting with Fuji’s medium format for my forest pictures… Umeå was a nice city but was especially stuck on the Sara Lidman quotes on the walls in the tunnel to the station. Was at a concert with Annika Norlin and Nordic Chamber Orchestra at the end of the month.

Not so many days past in November yet, hoping for a couple of photo days at the end of the month and possibly to see the Sara Lidman movie in Ånge.